Craig joined the Army in 1987 and served for 11
years in the 1st Battalion Scots. During his service, he saw
operational duty in Germany, Canada, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and the Gulf War.
In 1998, Craig left the Army to be with his
family and spent several years working on ‘Civvy Street’. However, when his
employer moved overseas, his role was made redundant and shortly afterwards his
marriage also ended.
Craig’s mental health began to suffer. In 2005,
he disappeared and was place on the missing persons register. He spent some
time living in a tent and it was only through a chance encounter with a friend
that he was encouraged to seek help. Craig was referred to SPACES (Single Persons’
Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services) - an organisation
that supports homeless veterans; they offered him a place at Mike Jackson House in Aldershot, a supported
accommodation residence. A WWTW Employment Advisor who helped him to develop
his skill set and find sustainable employment also supported him.
During his time at Mike Jackson House, Craig
attended an ‘Introduction to Mountain Skills Adventure Training’ course. This
inspired him to seek employment that involved the outdoors and in 2016, he
joined WWTW’s annual flagship event, the #CumbrianChallenge that takes place in
the Lake District.
Craig now
feels more positive and confident about the future.
Click here to find out more about our Employment Programme